EJI lawyers have won new sentences for children in Mississippi and Arkansas who were originally sentenced to die in prison for non-homicide offenses. Both clients are now eligible for parole.
Barry Turner was 17 years old when he was arrested for kidnapping in Pulaski County, Arkansas. He was tried as an adult, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole. After the U.S. Supreme Court decided in Graham v. Florida that it is unconstitutional to sentence a juvenile nonhomicide offender to die in prison, EJI sought a new sentence for Barry.
Last week, a Jefferson County trial court resentenced Barry to a sentence that provides him the opportunity to earn release on parole if he can show that he has matured and rehabilitated.
EJI also won a new sentence pursuant to Graham for Kevin Moton, who was sentenced to die in prison in Mississippi for a nonhomicide offense at age 17. Like Barry, Kevin will now have a chance to earn his release on parole.